4 Different Mulches in One Garden!

[@AJay-gg2vy]

Just here to say how much I enjoy your content and those furbabies

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

"The 1st duty of every gardener is to improve the soil." Don't know where or when I was told this saying, but it's a principle I live by.

[@marybeth4002]

Thankful for your detailed advice and your years of experience that now result in the gardens and flower beds of your followers. I appreciate your no nonsense approach and, of course, the canine cuteness that we love witnessing. Thank you, Jim.

[@JimPutnam]

Thank you. And Holly thanks you!🐕‍🦺

[@JLee-pc2vc]

Shopping for plants is definitely the fun part, but it's also kind of fun to pull back wood chip mulch after its been down for months and find that compacted red clay has turned into soft, beautiful soil that's easy to dig in. Dirt is fun! 😀 Your garden is looking great Jim!

[@lisahenning4504]

I'm so thankful for your advice! My garden has come a long way since I started watching. Just wrapping up mulching over my shredded leaf layer. And I copied your pathways as chips and it's stunning 😍

[@JimPutnam]

Awesome. Good luck with everything!!

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

Love the compost idea for landscape beds! Great idea to use it as mulch

[@JimPutnam]

Works great for those things that you want to grow super fast!

[@pennyduncan5980]

Thank you! You are appreciated.

[@PerpetuallyEthereal]

I bought a super lightweight snow shovel strictly for applying mulch. Works like a charm!

[@csellers5818]

Your yard is coming alive. Thanks for this info. Just getting ready to get some mulch.

[@JimPutnam]

Thanks for watching!

[@sedumbean]

Yay for shredded leaves 🤓

[@Jan-Richtr]

Nice color combination of the violas 😉

[@donnahazlett7305]

Great demonstration! Thank you. And I personally appreciate that you share your advice, recommendations on tools, your opinions and past experiences. I listen to everything you say. And what tools I've purchased upon your recommendation have been beyond great. What a difference! It positively improves your whole gardening experience!

[@JimPutnam]

Awesome. Thank you for the feedback!

[@kaylac3367]

Great tips! I'm glad you talked about pruning and fertilizing before you put down mulch. Makes perfect sense. Also appreciate your explanation of the different types of mulch and how they work in your garden. Yours always looks great! Love a fresh mulched bed cause it looks so neat and tidy!

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

Keep the leaves in, then mulch. Got it ❣️

[@dwohio8283]

Great, so I don't need to remove every leaf before mulching. That will be so much easier, Thank you!

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

It always looks beautiful when mulched 🥰 Thank You for the tips Jim

[@8helenjhouston8]

Feed the soil!!! The key to all good things.

[@cathycraig1301]

Wow, good thinking. I’m starting a very large front yard from scratch. I’ve been weeding, doing some planting (too hot now in June), and gradually adding mulch. But I never thought about the sun and heat killing the microbes before I get it all mulched!

[@junetriggs3829]

Beautiful landscape. I'm going to copy😀

[@johnmorris7302]

Always learning from you so thank you.

[@annetteshaver1821]

Great information. I’ve been gardening for years. Every time I watch your videos I learn something new. Thank you!

[@ivettesantana4319]

i compost my leaves and am asking the neighbors for more lol but this is my first year doing mulch because I need to get the soil in the ground better cheaply and have perennials not potted. This video is right on!!

[@elainecrabtree2009]

The list of spring jobs before mulching is super useful. And great mulching know how. Thank you.

[@MrEunderwood]

Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate the information you put out! We've started landscaping around our new construction house and now it doesn't look so naked. We've also put in an orchard and an olive martini eleagnus hedge with lots of help from your content! Thanks!!

[@peggydove8756]

Great advice again, thank you! Our big box store finally got some Pine Bark Mulch in. Really fine stuff, love it. Can't wait till the flurries stop flying here in zone 6b Fayetteville, WV so I can get busy!

[@judymiddleswart9350]

So timely for me as I’m about to get mulch put in thanks!!

[@basanteena]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Jim. Always learn so much from you.

[@oopsydaisy4637]

Absolutely! mulching saves you a lot of time and effort later (especially weeding) reminds me I need to put my mulch down in the next week or two. Thanks for a great video!

[@pamelacallaway3922]

Thanks for showing and telling how to prep our gardens. I’ll be following your advice to get some low lying areas of my yard up to snuff.

[@CattyCats3]

I also use a snow shovel. Works great. Thank you for sharing your tips!

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

That is same shovel that we used to use...it really did work the best

[@donnacrawford3667]

Jim, I love your channel and the information you share. I am in zone 6 MA/NH line and am fortunate to have woods and a pond in the rear of our sun filled property. I have learned, with your help, the advantages of using organic leaves as compost/mulch around my shrubs and flower beds. Fantastic winter protection and organic feed. I have a garden cart I take down to the woods and gather composted leaves from the previous year. You can imagine the huge amount of worms when I pull back the top layer. I have the most beautiful evergreen and flowering shrubs and last year I started a successful pollinator garden. Thank you very much.

[@JimPutnam]

That's awesome!!

[@Garricher5958]

With surplus leaves I'm going to convert them to leaf mold in black plastic bags(1 year), but using my regular supply as mulch. Every couple of years I plan on doing the Chipdrop thing. Great Video Jim!!!

[@JimPutnam]

Sounds like a good plan!!

[@joannpreen5880]

Thanks for this educational video. It definitely answered a lot of my questions. I appreciate it.

[@RevAcres01]

Great tips! Learning prep soil first then shop. As a zone 4 Minnesotan snow shovel all the way my go to tool for mulch prep.

[@stephaniejohnson2937]

And here I thought (as new southern gardener) that pine straw was the way to go…you have taught me a lot!!!!

[@JimPutnam]

I like to use pinestraw occasionally. It just isn't that great at helping build topsoil

[@stephaniejohnson2937]

@@JimPutnam good to know :) you really have helped me transform my gardening space with your educational videos!! Thanks!!

[@cece_marie]

I can't wait to see what my soil looks like after putting down woodchips last year. We were fortunate to get excellent quality chipdrops! Great reminder to do pruning and tidying before. It's all looking great, thanks for the double pup display!

[@patnicholson6051]

Thank you for continuing quality content! Loving the beautiful early spring, my favorite time.

[@JimPutnam]

Thanks for following along!

[@terrimainey4656]

Thanks for the information, Jim! Your recommendation for the chips has been such a godsend for me at the new house. Now to add the "fun stuff"-- plants! A good base always makes for an awesome garden.

[@valeriezendiver263]

This was quite helpful, thank you!

[@rebeccawoods4488]

I am really learning so much from your years of experience, and it’s making my gardening easier. Thank you!

[@maggieb8499]

Great video! We just got a load of wood chips which I’ll use for a new garden path, but good to know I can use it as mulch too. I’ve learned so much from you on creating a good base for plants using compost and mulch and am already seeing a huge improvement in my soil from a year ago. My favorite Christmas gift this year was a leaf shredder!

[@MrEunderwood]

Did you purchase the wood chips or was it from one of those free drop off services? I'm having a hard time finding them in my area

[@christophertaylor9826]

Great video on mulch, good information and love your videos.

[@cathyhatfield5340]

Great stuff here👍❤️ thanks for showing great ideas for improving our soils.

[@mdwalker3034]

Great tips & content! Just finished pruning, fertilizing, and general clean up this last week. 20 yards of hardwood mulch coming in two days…guess what we are doing for awhile?

[@nicolewedemeyermiller7016]

Your mulch looks good, but I am looking forward to seeing you lay your flagstone paths. I'm going to be installing more of those this spring when things dry out a bit, and I will be curious to see what your technique is.

[@brittanymcdonaldbarr1106]

Great information. Thank you.

[@judymckerrow6720]

Because I can’t afford large quantities of mulch and compost I just started planting, MY MISTAKE, things do not grow well at all without getting your basics down first. I live in the country so it’s not essential that my garden looks perfect so it’s a slow process for me. I’m an old fart so it’s a very slow process for me because sometimes I just don’t feel very well. That being said I just realized I have a whole barn full of compost, getting it out a fork full at a time will be a slow process but years of sheep manure in the barn needs to come out. I can lay it down where I’m not planting and let nature take it’s course. I’m glad that light bulb just popped into my head. Thanks Jim, and I most definitely agree, get your basics down BEFORE planting. ❄️💚🙃

[@JimPutnam]

It is definitely a process and not a race. I tell people all the time that nothing needs to be done all at once. Thanks for watching!

[@jenniferhooks2454]

Thanks for all the helpful info you share.

[@shawnfox7393]

Hey Jim, just an FYI if you happen to read this. In my area what you call "triple-shredded hardwood mulch" is called "aged hardwood mulch". They shred it twice, age it for 6 months, then shred it again and sell it. They also add nitrogen to it so that it doesn't create a negative nitrogen pull from the soil.

[@solarroofing8072]

there is no need to add nitrogen if you keep the mulch on TOP of the soil it will work fine.. people get into trouble if they mix the bark into the soil, which can then depete the nitrogen from the plant roots.

[@cathycraig1301]

This video reminded me to look into “chipdrop”, which I Just did. Holy cow. Min drop is twenty ! Cu yards. This is like two ten-yard dump trucks. That would completely cover my house. Interesting service though.

[@jackieremis6533]

Thanks for another wonderful informative video!

[@JimPutnam]

Thank you!!

[@lindaemerson9923]

I have followed you for a few years now, and I love all your advice. Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge! Now the serious question, Who is Steph?! 😂😂😂

[@smithlawnscapesllc]

mulch from a diseased maple for mulch ? Did i hear that correctly.

[@jcking6785]

Great tips as usual and make perfect sense. Sure wish Soil3 in the giant bag was available here in central KY!

[@JimPutnam]

Thanks for watching!

[@rosiesingleton6480]

Well you just saved me from back breaking raking this Spring 👍🏻

[@HandcraftedintheFoothills]

We buy our mulch in bags...watch for sales at our local farm supply store. We are getting a little older now and it's not as easy to shovel and move wheelbarrows around our yard as it used to be...bags we can still manage for now...

[@JimPutnam]

Definitely makes sense!

[@judymckerrow6720]

Your snow shovel is our grain shovel ❄️💚🙃

[@JimPutnam]

Heck, we wouldn't know what a real snow shovel looks like in the south🤣.

[@judymckerrow6720]

@@JimPutnam Oh we get lots of snow here in Michigan, but because my husband is a farmer it’s first and foremost a grain shovel. Now that we’re not farming anymore sometimes it’s a grain shovel and sometimes it’s a snow shovel, whatever he happens to call it on any given day, but mostly a grain shovel🤣❄️💚🙃

[@jills3649]

Is there any types of compost and mulch you don’t recommend to use at all that is sold at big box stores?

[@anitahadley2871]

I only dispose of the leaves under my hydrangeas, the rest I usually chop up and spread it back down. We are getting to the low 20s this weekend in GA. What about you? i will cover my hydrangeas but I’m wondering about my blueberries. I’ve had bees all over the blooms and wondering if they should be covered too. They’re in a huge container.

[@JimPutnam]

Same here. I filmed a video that will be up tomorrow talking about covering a few things

[@dianearnold1604]

I asked about planting under dogwood I put down pine needles to make a bed is that ok I have so many pine trees on my property.

[@zeroibis]

Problem I get with leaves is they blow out of the mulch bed and then I have a mess all over the yard and some plants that catch the leaves get buried. I guess the way your yard sits you never get strong winds across your leaf mulch beds.

[@JimPutnam]

Yeah, I have addressed that some will need to thin leaves around plants because the wind is a pain for sure

[@dylan8285]

The cheap dyed mulch is chipped pallets, scrap wood and just wood leftovers/ by products from other stuff. Lumber mill tailings, scrap lumber, pallets, things that would other wise be waste in a dump or burned basically. Then dye it so its pretty and uniform. For sure dont use around anything you plan to eat, ornamentals will be fine but whos knows what chemicals your putting in your soil

[@leightodd7335]

That snow shovel (aka grain) made my back hurt and me start sweating. lol Spent many a summer on the end of one of those shoveling milo and wheat into bins and then cotton seed into the back of my grandfathers old truck to feed the cows. Don't want to get into rakes and pitchforks. lol

[@JimPutnam]

Well, it is definitely still work🤣. Can't really change that. Mine was priming tobacco in a southern field in Aug.

[@solarroofing8072]

1:45 it takes WAY longer than a FEW months for wood chips to break down in most zones, even 7b. I"m a few hours south west of you in Charlotte, NC zone 8a and put down 6 loads of wood chips around my clay soil last summer and they have improved the soil on top of the clay a lot, but the clay is still there. I will till it under maybe next year and then not till after that. compost is for making the soil loose and the clay provides the nuitrients, no till is not always the best way because it will take 20 years before the two are mixed up naturally. I know becuase when I dig in my front yard thats 25 years old only the first 3 inches are good soil, under that is pure clay from when the subdivisin was developed.

[@pharmgirl1955]

Yeah, Griffin.

[@SamSam-kq6qb]

I purchased a truck load of mushroom compost from a local bulk soil company. I dug in about a good amount into my garden beds. Should I have left it sitting on top vs. digging it in? Quite surprised to see mushroom compost! New to me.

[@vadagrindy3508]

Could you tell what kind of dumping cart you are using and recommend?

[@dorisharrison8497]

I really need your help.. I do enjoy learning from you. Please advise me if wood chips will smother bermuda grass?? I put down black plastic over the bermuda grass 6 months ago. I looked at the runners under the black plastic and I did find some green runners. I really want to add a planting bed in this spot but Betmuda grass is killing me.

[@judymckerrow6720]

I like to use rubber mulch in my walkways❄️💚🙃

[@johnmorris7302]

Do you consider pine stray a compost?

[@kathleenweeks6068]

I live in zone 9b where it is very dry and have all my plants on a drip system. Should I water down my much/compost/leaves occasionally to keep the breakdown process going? Thanks for all your practical advice.

[@JimPutnam]

It is definitely harder for you to build soil. I would lean more on compost when planting than those of us that get more rainfall. Luckily for you, the mulch last longer!

[@jesswalks765]

hahah your face when you say "rubber mulch" 😱

[@samuelasamoah6906]

What are the names of your summer annuals?

[@connieoreilly1726]

I'm now old enough that hauling mulch around and shoveling it onto the beds isn't a good option. Fortunately we have commercial outfits (in Portland Oregon) that will blow it in. They're pretty good about not burying plants, though I did have to go out and knock it off a few things with a stick. It was cheaper than paying someone to spread it by hand.

[@marilynmourdock3688]

When you're planning a new bed, do you ever use the no dig method with cardboard?

[@judymckerrow6720]

I wish I had leaves to use as a mulch. We have plenty of leaves but their black walnut leaves 🙁❄️💚🙃

[@JimPutnam]

That's tough. I saw that if they are composted for about 6 months it is ok to use. That's a long time though

[@jackl6322]

Hi Jim, thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with us. Question: Is there ever a problem with termites in wood chips? I'd be hesitant to use them near our home's foundation and would love your feedback.

[@pamelarichards6482]

Jim I have having a terrible time finding any compost anywhere in my area at a cost I can afford. What is the next best thing?

[@jessicarichardson5126]

Do you recommend creating a new bed by edging it from the lawn, then adding a layer of compost and mulch? Without removing the turf? (I have mature shrubs along a fence just growing from the lawn). Thanks! Your videos are always helpful.

[@JimPutnam]

I would remove it, if you can. I put compost and a deep layer of wood chips and that did kill a lot of it.

[@jgwood10]

You can also do the no dig method. I use it for all new beds. I use layers of newspaper where I want the bed and water it down so it doesn’t blow away until I get the mulch spread out over the newspaper. I wait a few months and plant whatever I want without grass and weeds growing through the mulch. To tell you the truth I don’t have all the strength to remove the turf so this has worked for me.

[@jessicarichardson5126]

Thank you! Will remove the turf.

[@jessicarichardson5126]

Thank you for sharing!

[@mariebarnes416]

Do you ever get termites with using wood chips?

[@christophernorris8064]

Very helpful! I am a bit worried about using wood based products up closer to my house--mainly because of possible termite issues that could arise. I am in GA and use the ever-abundant southern pine straw close to the house (but don't really like it!) Is this a problem? What else can I safely use?

[@JimPutnam]

A thin layer of mulch dries out enough that it isn't really conducive to termites. I like pinestraw, but I'm more worried about potential fire risk of it near the house. We had some apartments burn in Raleigh and the pinestraw and a cigarette was to blame.

[@heatherw.2751]

Yes! That and the risk of snakes keeps me from using pine straw up against the house. I do use it in my beds along the wood line way in the back. Copperheads blend in way too well for my taste!

[@sarac.5750]

Hi! but the woodchips will not still nitrogen?

[@JimPutnam]

No, it is definitely one of those over done rumors. It will use some that it gives right back

[@janmoses1533]

Just curious- Is there a reason you use Soil3 instead of getting a truck load of compost at the Wake County Yard Waste facility?

[@Silver87sc]

I'm so scared to put anything around my plants. I have a whole row of photinias mixed with loropetalum (they're not doing great at the moment) two climbing roses, shantung maple and two small black diamond crape myrtles. I recent acquired a ginkgo and an Arizona blue ice cypress. Can I just use a hardwood mulch for everything? Or composted manure? I have sandy loam and am figuring out that maybe the drainage is TOO good, which also leads to nutrient deficiency for the plants. I know the soil needs improvement to retain moisture/add nutrients, but I don't want to kill my plants and be out a lot of money, either 🥺🥺🥺

[@beckyscheller9358]

My husband has a lot of wood shavings from his workshop. Is this ok for the garden/ flower beds? Or compost. I am not sure what to do with it

[@JimPutnam]

The none pressure treated wood is fine for sure. I'm not sure about the pressure treated wood though

[@joycesecco7599]

My soil3 delivery is due this afternoon. This will be the first time I've tried this product (after seeing you using it!) Is this to be used straight up in the grow bags and pots, or should it be mixed with perlite and peat moss/coco fiber? I also plan to use this in a raised bed. Should this be mixed also or straight up? Concord NC 7b

[@JimPutnam]

I mixed it with pine bark in my grow bags last year, but it wasn't as good as the year before when I used it straight up.

[@joycesecco7599]

Thanks! It's been years since I've had a real vegetable garden, and I'm so looking forward to it this year.

[@loganbutler1016]

Quick question. I live in zone 6b and am thinking of planting a privacy hedge of Carolina Sapphire cypress. It is a full sun location south facing in fairly poor soil. Do you think this is a good option or can you think of a better one?

[@demaupin]

3:28 "It [tilling] kills _everything_ you being up to the top" - can you tell me what was meant by this? Microbes, microrrhziae? And does this apply to double digging to work in compost on a new plot, or only tilling? I know that tilling, from what I've read, harms earthworm populations; is that what is being referred to?

[@JimPutnam]

It kills your whole list. Microbes do recover quickly in an environment with compost and moisture. No till is ultimately better for the long run

[@demaupin]

@@JimPutnam Thank you very much for your helpful reply!:)

[@chriscoogan2736]

Do the wood chips stay in place well or have you found that strong winds blow it around? My back yard is dominated by one large live oak and two water oaks which render 2/3 of the yard barren with roots sticking up all over the place. Over time, the dirt seems to turn into sand that gets blown around. Was thinking I could dump a few inches of wood chips in that area and hope the boys don't kick it all over the place.

[@JimPutnam]

I haven't had it blow around, but I don't get crazy winds here typically. It will improve the soil.

[@jillseymour2653]

I may have missed it, but what are your thoughts on pine bark mulch? Not nuggets, actual pine bark mulch.

[@JimPutnam]

I love using pine bark mulch in containers and when planting. It is probably best mixed with something else if using it as mulch. It floats like crazy

[@dorindajenkins7825]

🙋

[@katherinecornette5315]

I remember when I first moved here & was looking looking for ways to improve the clay soil for a garden and then saw people putting leaves in bags in front of their homes 🤔

[@arkay49er]

That’s a scoop shovel, not a snow shovel.

[@solarroofing8072]

yep, it snows about once a year where he lives , lol.

[@rodgerwille6035]

Appreciate your content and the time you put into educating the rest of us! Mulch helps keep weeds at bay, but is there any concern with it preventing bulbs and perennials from growing back? i.e. would I need to wait to mulch until after perennials like hostas and other bulbs start growing to avoid smothering them out?

[@JimPutnam]

They are all amazing and can push through a thin layer of anything. If they are already coming up, just be careful around them

[@solarroofing8072]

couple of inches if fine, but 6 to 8 inches will not be good, learned that from expereience. had to dig out the mulch around some daffodills after I put down too much mulch.

[@jul7673]

Everything I have gets mulched, but I think it negatively impacts reseeding of desirable plants. Example: everyone talks about runaway hellebores, but mine NEVER make new plants.

[@troywiggins4318]

Holly talks!!!!!

[@jerryhuesing9627]

I like the blue and yellow combo there. In support of Ukraine?

[@daffodilsanddogwoods9695]

Hey everyone! I am wanting to start using mulch in my garden, but was told it would draw snakes. I’m in zone 7. Anyone dealt with this?

[@debandrews7415]

Feed your soil, not your plants. Great video.

[@clairetrimby111]

Anyone who has shovelled horse shit for any length of time can mulch in their sleep 🤣